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Don't forget to turn your cameras vertical when composing photographs. Often, my dad and I will try to shoot the same scene vertically and horizontally. Vertical photos make great magazine covers and that can be a lucrative business deal. F11 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50mm lens at 46mm

The rocky lakeshore along US31 south of Petoskey is, I believe, one of Michigan's most picturesque shoreline drives. I cannot resist making an image combining the patterns of the rocky shoreline and the dramatic sky looming overhead.

For years our family has stopped on US31 near the Susan Creek Nature Preserve along Lake Michigan between Petoskey and Charlevoix to look for Petoskey stones. This vantage also provides a great view of the lake, and tonight I am witnessing one of the most cobalt blue skies I have ever seen. I am so glad that I have my camera, tripod, and waterproof shoes so I can capture the moment. F11 at 1.3 seconds, ISO 100, 14mm lens at 14mm

The rocks are what most intrigued me during a 2008 shoreline hike at Sleeping Bear Point. I love the color blue, so I was also therefore drawn to the blue look to the rocks in the shadowy twilight. It took me longer than it should have to understand that the natural world often looks richer in dimmer light than brighter light. With adequate exposure, magic often appears on film or sensors in very low light.

Neighbors on the Buttersville Peninsula have left a pleasing arrangement of beach chairs in front of their home. The soft blues of the evening sky and Lake Michigan complements the chairs. I am getting that tropical feeling that makes me want to relax in one of the chairs with a Shock Top beer. Instead I savor the view while making the picture. F22.0 at 2.5, ISO 100, 12-24 mm lens at 14 mm

Photographing Michigan is for Brad and me as much about experiencing Michigan as it is about making images. We have stopped along one of our favorite stretches of rocky shoreline between Petoskey and Charlevoix to immerse ourselves in Michigan artwork. F10 at 1/60, ISO 400, 14-24mm lens at 14mm

What a way to start my day. It is 5:58 a.m. as I am eased awake by the soft glow of the moon as it sets over Lake Michigan at Buttersville Park between Ludington and Pentwater. This is one of those gentle "wine shots" that are great to savor with a cup of coffee while the tripod holds my camera. F16 at 2 seconds, ISO 100, 14-24mm lens at 23mm

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I enjoyed my first-time charter fishing with Hiatus Charters tonight. Todd, Debbie, Brad, and I all had the chance to head out on Lake Michigan hoping for a chance to reel in the big one. Well, I reeled in a whopper! A 28-lb salmon! This sunset followed us as we headed back to the dock. What a memorable day!

While visiting the kids today at their mom’s, in Silver Lake, we took a drive to find something to photograph. Across the lake, we spotted a Mac Woods dune scooter as it headed down the steepest part of the ride. I parked my truck, got my camera and tripod out, and waited for the next Mac Woods dune scooter to go by.

The Lake Michigan house we are renting this week in Manistee is amazing! The dinner table has a runner made of beautiful lake stones. As the evening sun poured in the large picture windows, I noticed the light hitting the tops of the stones. I grabbed my camera and my macro lens in order to capture the moment. F2.8 at 1/200, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 50 mm

One of our favorite ways to photograph Lake Michigan is by actually getting in the water a little way. This helps put the viewer of our work into the scene. People will be more likely to feel like they are really at the beach. Shoes and clothes will dry. Get in the water to shoot next time you are out photographing. You won’t regret it!

After I wait an hour for a break in the clouds, magic light falls upon the beach and beach house at Ludington State Park. Time to shoot! F22.0 at 1/6, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

After I wait an hour for a break in the clouds, magic light falls upon the beach and beach house at Ludington State Park. Time to shoot! F22.0 at 1/6, ISO 200, 12-24 mm lens at 24 mm

Today my dad and I and our associate Greg Dunn put on our first-ever workshop on Adobe Photoshop. For the evening session of the workshop, we all headed to Ludington State Park to photograph the sunset. The "magic light" was gorgeous, and as usual, very fleeting. F8.0 at 1/320, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

I could spend hours exploring the pedestrian area of the Silver Lake Sand Dunes, especially when I have a camera in my hand. The light and shadow this morning played nicely on the sand ripples and created a dramatic scene with this old stump.

Tonight, we took the Lake FX film crew by boat out to the Hamlin Lake Sand Dunes to shoot some footage on the documentary we are making about my dad and his 50 years of photographing Michigan. It was another glorious night with warm shadows and great light.

Today my wife Betsy and I celebrated our ninth wedding anniversary. I was in a hurry to find my photo of the day so I could get home and spend time with Betsy and the kids. I headed to Ludington State Park and climbed the dunes to the east of the First Curve along M-116. A few minutes later I had my photo of the day. F8.0 at 1/60, ISO 100, 18-50 mm lens at 18 mm

A wave bursts over one of the pilings left from a dock that once jutted out into Lake Michigan at Oval Beach in Saugatuck. I like the repetitive patterns of the worn pilings and the way the waves and light play on them at sunset on a June evening. F8 at 1/320, ISO 800, 24-70mm lens at 32mm

For over 10 years I have dreamed of making this photograph. It has been no secret that I love to make photographs while standing in the water, but I always had to be very careful to not get my camera too wet. Today, I no longer had to worry about my camera staying dry. A waterproof camera housing allowed me to get the immediacy that I have always dreamed about within the rolling breakers of Lake Michigan. F6.3 at 1/1600, ISO 400, 10-17mm lens at 11.5mm